ARLINGTON, TX: Bishop Iker Urges Delegates to be Steadfast For The Faith
Diocese Gains Five Churches

By Michael Heidt
Virtueonline Correspondent
www.virtueonline.org
November 7, 2009

In characteristically measured tones, Bishop Iker told delegates to the Diocese of Fort Worth's 27th Annual Convention on Saturday, November 7, 2009, to stand against "all that is evil and false," and for "the revealed truth of the Christian Faith." The Bishop went on to welcome five new parishes into the Diocese of Fort Worth.

Speaking to the Convention's theme, "Standing Firm in the Faith," Bishop Iker reiterated St. Paul's exhortation to the Ephesians to "put on the whole armor of God," and stand "firm in the faith they had received." Iker was clear that this meant being against "the powers of evil" and for "the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

For the Bishop of Fort Worth, this means "being on the offense," not least against the "power of the evil one" and "continuing to stand boldly in the face of whatever opposition or challenges may confront us... without compromise or surrender." Iker outlined the nature of this, reminding the Convention of the need to stay focused on the mission and growth of the Church in the face of litigation by the pansexual advocates of Jefferts Schori's Episcopal denomination.

Iker ripped this group of heterodox litigants stating, "As you know, the small minority who separated from us in order to remain in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America has not been content with our willingness to give them their buildings and property - they want ours as well." He went on to say that legal proceedings would take "years, not months" and gave thanks to an anonymous benefactor who has made legal defense possible.

But, as the Bishop reminded his listeners, this is only part of a larger spiritual battle in which the Diocese of Fort Worth is to "work and pray for a deeper unity in Christ for all believers, for the sake of mission, that the world may believe." Unlike the empty gospel of sexual liberation, lawsuits and Millennium Development Goals, Iker's stand for traditional Christianity is producing growth, with five new churches joining the Diocese of Fort Worth. These were welcomed at the Convention by the Bishop,

"One of the big highlights of this Convention is our great joy in welcoming into our diocese five new congregations. This is unprecedented in the history of the diocese. So let us greet with joy and thanksgiving those churches joining our diocese today: St. Francis in Dallas, St. Matthias in Dallas, the Church of the Holy Spirit in Tulsa, Oklahoma, St. Gabriel's in Springdale, Arkansas, and our newly founded mission church here in Fort Worth - Christ the Redeemer."

On being invited to applaud these new arrivals to the Diocese, delegates rose to give a standing ovation, only to be assured that they could look forward to more of the same next year and in the years ahead.

As increasing numbers of Christians walk away from an ever dwindling TEC, Iker's prophecy looks set to be fulfilled. Stay tuned for more parishes and people joining the unashamedly orthodox Diocese of Fort Worth, which is firmly committed to standing fast to the Gospel received from Christ Himself.

Bishop Iker's address can be read here:
http://www.fwepiscopal.org/diocesanconvention/09convention/address.html

----Fr. Michael Heidt is a priest in the Diocese of Ft. Worth and a correspondent for VirtueOnline